St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1887-01-01
The True InWardness of the
Strong Case at Last.
Shreveport Times.


at asst brought to a trial, the evidence
adduced, and the matter taken under
advisement by the court.
1t is clear that Strong stole the
money. He may not have stolen all
that he is charged with stealing, but he
stole large part of the sum. This
much is settled: an ex-secretary of
state, an ex-brigadier- general of the
State militia, and secretary of the
Louisiana Senate has embezzled the
money of the people. The question
BILE for the embezzement? Was there
anything lax in the administration OF
the laws that permitted an officer of the
State government to steal more than
$4,000 OF the money that came from the
pockets of the people Let US see.
Auditor Steele was called before the
court to testify. From this evidence, as
given in the Times-Democrat, we ex-
tract
al am auditor of public accounts, and
entered upon the discharge of the duties
of the office May %, 1884. | heard on
the outside in 1884 that viii A. Strong,
secretary of state, had paid nothing into
the state treasury for account of ticket
paper. BY inspection of auditors
books, kept by my predecessor, | saw
that no money for election paper had
been paid by Strong. then informed
the governor that no money had been
paid in from the sale of ticket paper. |
There We're no other steps taken by me. |
! notified the governor verbally of this
examined the law and concluded had !
nothing to do with it, and did not men
ton it III my report. A certificate from
the books OF the auditors office show
that Strong had drawn on September 6,
1882, per +. A. Brandao, warrants to the
amount OF $3.50 10; on April 26, 1894.
warrants to the amount of 50, 1856, and
Oh April IS, 1884, a warrant for S54.
making a total of $3.50 10; and that on
November 8, 1884. 81 ,069 was received
from the sale OF tickets on November
:, same year, s125, and on August II,
1886, 1854 25; total 1918 %, showing
balance of S4,251 So unaccounted for.
Cross examined-I do not know what
disposition Strong made of the funds
arising from the sale of ticket paper |
knew nothing about how much money
he received from the sale of ticket pa
Per. don't know that he received any
or not | never knew and don't know
now anything about how Strong con
Quoted the business Of selling the paper
and collecting pay therefor. | don't
Know that he received any money for
election paper. | only know from the
81
had been issued under the acts making :
appropriations for holding elections in ,,
1882 and 1894, and know nothing outside ,
of that Z
Re-cross examiDation-I had another :
conversation with the governor in re- :
gard to this matter. The governor :
informed me that Dir. Strong represen- -.
ted that he had had no settlement with =
Mr.. Brandao, and that he had consid-
cradle quantity of paper on hand, and 6
that on settlement with the State he =
would not be due more than about $3.50, y
and that when he ascertained his in r
debtedness he was prepared to make a r
settlement. Senator Kelly, of VIM
parish, made the same statement to me- n
Re-crOss examined-This conversa- I
ton with the governor was in the fall E.
Of 1884 and during the session of 1885, ~ ~
and the conversation with Senator
Kelly was also during the session of .,
1886 81 81
In connection with this testimony :,
we're submitted the following letters: =.
AUGUST 2S. 1s84-Hon. Will A. g.
Strong, st. Maurice. La.-Dear Sir: It ~ ~
appears from the report of Hon f. A. VI
Burke, treasurer, and Of E. A. Brandao :,
Il CO., agents; that under section Of ~
act-of 1882, there have been sold for g. g,
election purposes and collected ticket :,
,aper to the amount of $3.50 so in 1882 =
md $2,434 So in 1881, amounting to h.
s3,424 ID. | am also informed at the 20 -
reasury department that no money has ID ID
'een paid into the treasury ON account ~ ~
# these sales of paper u,
Mr.. Brandao further states that there vi vi
8 still due the State money in the o ol
onntry and balance of paper not used ~
have to respectfully request that the ~ II,
bOve amount of money paid for tickets -, Im
old and collected be paid into the ~ -,
reasury upon 1.-THE order Of the auditor on on
# public accounts, and that informa- az
ion be given me of amounts owing, -
nd by whom owed, in the country for
!ckets, so that said amounts may be
peedily collected.
Very respectfully yours,
). ID. MCENERY, Governor.
ST.. MAURICE, La, September 12,
His Excellency, S. D. Mem to-
Y, Governor: Dear GOVERNOR am or
nst in receipt of your letter, having on
cen absent from home attending 6.5
ourts at w. and Sparta, and will be in co
'at0n Rouge next week. SET
Very respectfully yours. S.
WILL A. STRONG. an
We now have the facts. Strong went VIZ
ut of office as secretary of state in sanl
fay, 1884 To that time he had drawn Ss
rom the state treasury $500 10 for an
lection ticket paper. To that time HE ga
AD NOT PAID BACK DIIE On Aug ar
st %, 1884, Governor McEnery wrote to ces
trong that there had been sold AND OF
Objected $3,434. Is on account Of tick Do
t paper, that $3.50 60 of this sum had Co
cen collected as far back as 1882, and we
II. Strong was respectfully request SUI .